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Cholinergic urticaria

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Cholinergic urticaria?
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Cholinergic urticaria
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December 23rd, 2009
I am a 16 year old male currently in high school. First off, let me tell you a little bit about my past with Cholinergic urticaria:

It started out in 2005. I first noticed it in my Phys Ed. class, after being itchy after playing some sports, and I didn't think much of it. After gradually getting worse and worse, I started taking one Reactine (Cetirizine) tablet daily after about a year of itchiness. This was sometime in 2006 when I started taking these tablets. The tablets helped reduce symptoms and worked quite well if I remained somewhat inactive. Near the end of 2008, I finally went to see a dermatologist to see if there was a better solution (since these pills didn't work 100%). The dermatologist simply said I will out grow it, and to try Loratadine tablets instead. I then started taking Loratadine tablets daily until about a month ago when I started feeling ill (these tablets had the same effectiveness as the Cetirizine tablets). I visited the doctor and she said that the Loratadine could be the cause of my illness, and I should Diphenhydramine instead. So I have been taking Diphenhydramine approximately every 4 hours now which are still not 100% effective.

My Cholinergic urticaria is extremely unconformable and embarrassing when I suddenly break out in hives in front of all my friends. Its ruining my life and probably ruining my liver from all of these medications.

I'm going to see another dermatologist soon, but I would definitely love to have everyone opinion on how I can cure this, or reduce the symptoms effectively.
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First Helper B1098
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woogie
replied January 7th, 2010
B1098, do you consume caffeine? If you do have you ever tried to eliminate it from you diet?

All i can say is i've been through what your going through, no antihistimine have ever worked for me.

Last year I decided to quit caffeine for a while because i noticed i was consuming coffee and energy drinks constantly. after two weeks i noticed my CU symptoms slowly declining in severity. after a month they were gone.

Now when I have a red bull or 3 cups of coffee i will itch when i sweat, but only for 4-5 days afterwards. I have complete control of my CU, simply by controling my caffeine. (I cannot say im cured, because I can still itch when i sweat, by drinking caffeinated drinks)

Assuming caffeine is in your diet, try to quit or cut down your intake for a while, it wont cost anything, and may possibly work for you...
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thirtythree
replied September 24th, 2011
There are different causes for CU. I have had this for about 14 years now. I've cut caffiene, gluten and sugar for little more than a year and found that it didn't do anything for me. I found that taking reactine, reduced my hives but didn't erradicate them. But it has made them more managable. I just experience a few small dots here and there instead of the burning red everywhere.

I've had several blood tests, and allergy tests done and everything in my body is running optimally. Doctors are now leaning to it being a nervous system problem. I do experience tremors, and they do get worse with a CU outbreak. Looking to try an anticholinergic medication. I am thinking this may actually work.

Best of Luck.
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staystrong20
replied November 11th, 2011
Ive had Cholinergic Urticaria since sophomore year in high school. I graduated college last year, and I think Ive found the remedy for the terrible, aggravating symptoms. Going to the gym and sweating it out completely is the only long term solution that worked for me. Prednisone worked for a while but I didnt like taking medicine so Ive stuck to the gym. It sounds ironic because the urticaria is heat induced, but if you can just power through the irritation and begin to detoxify your body by sweating it out, it will make a HUGE difference. Good luck to everyone out there. I know how tough this can be, but it can be surmounted.
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staystrong20
replied November 11th, 2011
Ive had Cholinergic Urticaria since sophomore year in high school. I graduated college last year, and I think Ive found the remedy for the terrible, aggravating symptoms. Going to the gym and sweating it out completely is the only long term solution that worked for me. Prednisone worked for a while but I didnt like taking medicine so Ive stuck to the gym. It sounds ironic because the urticaria is heat induced, but if you can just power through the irritation and begin to detoxify your body by sweating it out, it will make a HUGE difference. Try getting on the treadmill and just running through it- its difficult at first because the outbreak begins, but just power through it until you sweat it out. Good luck to everyone out there. I know how tough this can be, but it can be surmounted.
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sickOfTheHives
replied January 9th, 2013
the gym works!!!!!
Yes I completely agree. I've had Cholinergic Urticaria for nearly 5 weeks now. I went to the gym yesterday evening, the first time, since after my rash started. I still had a rash, but I was sick of being inactive. After sweating it out on the treadmill and gym class, I got home. I found exercising did not make the rash worse. A few hours after I got home, it almost disappeared. It was bizarre, it was like my skin was healing infront of my eyes. The red blotches were pretty much gone!I actually felt the drop in internal body temperature as well. Goes against what you think you should do but it works!!!!!
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